Shura Council discusses Environmental Law bill referred by government

Muscat: The Health and Social Affairs Committee of the Shura Council met on Monday with several specialists from the Environment Authority and the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) to discuss the Environmental Law bill referred by the Government to the Shura Council, within the Committee’s mandate and its role in studying draft laws and offering its views on them, in a manner that contributes to developing the legislation governing the environmental sector and enhancing its effectiveness in keeping pace with environmental changes and challenges.At the outset of its proceedings, the Committee held a meeting with specialists from the Environment Society of Oman, during which Hamed Al Sawakhroon, Chairman of the Health and Social Affairs Committee, welcomed the Society’s representatives, commending the role it plays as a non-profit civil society institution concerned with environmental affairs, and its efforts in environmental awareness and in contributing to the conservation of Oman’s environment, the protection of biodiversity and natural resources, as well as its role in promoting community participation in environmental issues. The meeting reviewed various articles and provisions of the Environmental Law bill, with specialists from the Environment Society of Oman presenting a set of views and observations on several of the bill’s articles, in addition to proposing a number of amendments and suggestions they considered worth taking into account. Committee members also discussed with the specialists the rationale behind these proposals and their legislative and practical implications.Separately, and as part of the Committee’s proceedings on the same day, it met with specialists from the Environment Authority, where the Committee Chairman welcomed the Authority’s representatives, commending its efforts in protecting Oman’s environment, conserving its natural resources and biodiversity, strengthening compliance with environmental requirements and standards, and addressing the various challenges and pressures facing the environment.His Excellency affirmed the importance of hearing the Authority’s views, given its role as the competent body for environmental affairs and the entity responsible for implementing relevant legislation and regulations, noting that hosting the specialists was intended to examine the rationale behind a number of the bill’s articles and provisions, and to discuss the queries and observations raised by the Committee, so as to help form a comprehensive legislative vision regarding the bill.The meeting with the Authority’s specialists addressed several articles and provisions of the bill, including discussion of its objectives in establishing a comprehensive legislative framework regulating environmental protection and the conservation of its components and natural resources, promoting the sustainable management of resources, curbing practices and activities with adverse environmental impacts, organising responsibilities and competences related to environmental affairs, and strengthening compliance with environmental requirements and standards, in line with recent developments and requirements in the field of environmental protection and sustainability.The Committee also discussed with the specialists various aspects relating to the mechanisms for implementing the proposed provisions and their consistency with practical realities, so as to ensure the clarity and enforceability of the legislative texts, and to enhance the effectiveness of the legal framework in protecting the environment and achieving a balance between the requirements of economic and social development and the goals of environmental sustainability.The discussion of the Environmental Law bill forms part of the legislative role undertaken by the Health and Social Affairs Committee of the Shura Council, and its commitment to hearing the views of the various entities and institutions concerned with the draft laws referred to the Council, and to drawing on the views of specialists and experts when studying the proposed texts and provisions, with a view to reaching views and recommendations grounded in the relevant legal, technical and practical considerations.The Environmental Law bill comes within the context of developing Oman’s environmental legislative framework, strengthening the legal frameworks safeguarding the environment and its natural and living components, raising the level of compliance with environmental requirements, and supporting national efforts aimed at achieving sustainability and preserving resources for future generations.It should be noted that Article 49 of the Council of Oman Law stipulates that draft laws are referred from the Council of Ministers to the Shura Council, which must decide on the bill by approving or amending it within no more than three months of the date of its referral; it is then referred to the State Council, which must decide on it by approving or amending it within no more than forty-five days of the date of its referral.The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Hamed Al Sawakhroon, Chairman of the Health and Social Affairs Committee of the Shura Council, with the Committee’s members in attendance.